Its straightforward nature leads to quick results, with only a little practice required to start reaping the benefits. This narrow-to-broad structure keeps you from getting bogged down in details-and missing other parts of the lecture as a result. It divides the page into sections that keep your thoughts organized, guiding you from key one-or-two-word terms into larger and more complex ideas. The system encourages you to reflect on your notes by actively summarizing them in your own words.

The five steps are easy to remember, and the methodology doesn’t take a great deal to get in the habit of doing. The biggest benefit of the Cornell Notes system is its efficiency. That makes it still widely applicable for college projects today. Its methodology is easy to remember and a snap to implement, which has helped it thrive even as traditional pen-and-paper note-taking gives way to digital screens and personal devices. He advocated its use in his best-selling book “ How to Study in College,” and it’s proved an invaluable asset for students ever since. The Cornell Notes system-also known as the Cornell note-taking system, Cornell method, or Cornell way-was devised in the 1950s by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University.

What exactly is the Cornell Notes system? With a little practice and the right organizational tools, you can use it to promote productivity and improve efficiency-pushing you and your understanding right to the front of any college class. And one of the most powerful methods for streamlining your note-taking is the Cornell Notes system.īased on an easy-to-remember mnemonic, the Cornell Notes system hinges on five key points: record, reduce, recite, reflect, and review. It helps you keep track of important details and organize ideas into a coherent plan. While note-taking is a skill that will always come in handy, effective note-taking is an essential tool for any college student today.

Evernote taking students